A nation turns its curious eyes to latest star wishing to trigger the ‘granny rule’
ALMOST 40 years since Michael Robinson became the first English-born footballer to play for the Republic of Ireland under the granny rule, Callum Robinson – no relation – is on the brink of becoming the latest recruit through the same eligibility process.
Sharing the same surname is one coincidence, but there are others. Both Robinsons are forwards, and both have ties to Preston North End.
For the homely Lancashire club is where the elder Robinson began his senior career 40 years ago and it is where the younger Robinson has become established as a first-team regular.
At some point this afternoon in Glasgow, 23-year-old Robinson will cross the white line for Ireland for the first time, as part of an Irish XI playing against Celtic in the Scott Brown Testimonial (2.0).
It’s the latest step in an Irish initiation process which was begun by the player two months ago. And why not? After all, his grandmother is from Monaghan and he is entitled to apply for Irish citizenship through her.
Only, what should be a smooth rite of passage appears to have hit a bump.
For starters, he has not received an Irish passport and cannot play for Ireland at international level.
It means the friendly games against France tomorrow week and the USA on June 2, when manager Martin O’Neill will be eager to blood newcomers ahead of the Nations League in the autumn, are out of bounds for Robinson.
The reason for a delay is not known as Irish newcomers have been fast-tracked through Government passport control in the past.
At least, the hold-up will afford O’Neill the chance to speak to Robinson about his motives for declaring for Ireland, for this is a player who was picked for England at all levels from U16s to U20s.
In contrast, the first serious wave of English-born ‘granny rule’ recruits, such as John Aldridge, Tony Cascarino, Andy Townsend and Jason McAteer, had never figured in a shirt with three lions on the crest before answering Ireland’s call.
Of the more recent ‘granny rule’ rookies – all introduced by O’Neill – Cyrus Christie, Harry Arter, Callum O’Dowda and David McGoldrick had never been previously selected for England either.
Robinson is different. He was honoured by the English FA over time before deciding to jump ship. To establish the player’s reason for doing so is something O’Neill is keen to uncover.
‘I’d have to sit down with him [Robinson] and find out his reasons for changing,’ acknowledged O’Neill. ‘If his reason was that he thought he had an easier chance of getting a game, rather than wanting to play, that might be an issue,’ he said.
‘I’d like to talk to him about it and ask “what’s your view, you were playing for England so why do you want to go and change your mind about it?”
‘I’d like to sit down with the player and until I do that there’s no point in me in giving you a clear-cut position,’ he added.
O’Neill accepts that a number of English-born footballers ‘who feel they have no chance of playing for England’ take a view along the lines ‘if I can qualify for another country there’s a chance of playing international football.’
Not all have taken such a mercenary stance. Mark Noble, the West Ham midfielder of Cork lineage on his grandmother’s side, could have declared for Ireland by now but felt it wouldn’t rest easy on his conscience, a stance which O’Neill admires.
‘The good thing about Noble was that he made it clear that he felt he had a chance of playing for England. That’s fine, once people make it clear that that’s where they want to go, I’m not in the business of changing their minds.
‘If Noble had said “there’s a chance here (with Ireland) I can play and I really want to have a go” that would be fine but he never felt that way about it, and I don’t have a problem with that.’
While Irish-born players and Irish supporters have always welcomed players born outside the island into the international squad, they have done so in the knowledge the player didn’t see Ireland as second choice.
Terry Mancini, born Terry Sealy in London, declared for Ireland late in his career and had never heard the national anthem when he made his debut, aged 31, against Poland in 1973.
He was gone within a year but not before famously flooring a Soviet Union forward in a 3-0 win at Dalymount Park.
Townsend had never set foot in Ireland before his debut in 1989 and went on to become one of Ireland’s finest captains in a distinguished career.
As a kid, Jason McAteer dreamed of playing for England, but he played for Ireland in two World Cup finals and was also a winning captain.
The most effective way for Callum Robinson to convince O’Neill, and the senior players in Glasgow today, chiefly Seamus Coleman, James McClean and Jon Walters, of his passion for the green shirt is by deed on the field of play, not word.
Should he do so, that chat with O’Neill can wait. Here’s to you, Mister Robinson.